The government was today urged to set up an urgent inquiry into the plight of children forced to care for their sick and disabled relatives.

"The government was today urged to set up an urgent inquiry into the plight of children forced to care for their sick and disabled relatives.

The call comes after an inquest last month into the death of Deanne Asamoah, 13, from Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, who had been looking after her terminally-ill mother.

The teenager fell into a coma and died after taking an overdose of the morphine prescribed for her terminally-ill mother.

The deputy coroner for Milton Keynes, Thomas Osborne, who recorded a narrative verdict, said he would write to children's minister Beverley Hughes asking why hundreds of young people are struggling to cope with such heavy responsibilities.

He called for a proper inquiry into the issue.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers said it was "very concerned" about thousands of young carers aged under 18 who it says are in a "desperate situation" caring for sick or disabled relatives. "I heard two of these young carers on the radio this morning, talking about their lives. - Disgracefully, in addition to all the other difficulties and problems and tasks they have to cope with, they are sometimes also subjected to bullying at school - bullying because they are carers! - Removing some of their burden should be a priority for the powers that be.